Delhi: Goel denies rebellion reports, BJP undecided on CM candidate

New Delhi: As Delhi goes to polls this December, the Bharatiya Janata Party seems to be facing a tricky issue as to who should be named as its chief ministerial candidate. The party leadership has held off on the decision for now even as Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel denied media reports that he threatened to quit his post over the projection of Harshvardhan, who is also in the reckoning.

The dilemma over the CM projection for the BJP in Delhi has been festering within for over a month now. The Central Election Committee of the party met in Delhi on Sunday evening to finalise the Chhattisgarh list for the coming polls, but was preceded by hectic lobbying from rival camps.

A section in the party pushed for immediate announcement of Harshvardhan's name while the state unit president Vijay Goel pressed for his own candidature. With that not happening, he reportedly insisted on a contest under collective leadership.

BJP Delhi in-charge Nitin Gadkari is also in favour of Harshvardhan's nomination, but is attempting to seek consensus. He is being backed by both Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.

With Goel, considered close to BJP President Rajnath Singh, taking a hard stand, one last attempt will be made in the days ahead to bring him around and finally the issue will be settled in the Central Parliamentary Board, which could be called before Diwali.